Chair



(No Model.)

L. .W. CHAPMAN.

GHAIR.

No. 483,976. Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

W II v l r; 1

any

LEWIS W. CHAPMAN, OF GRAND LEDGE, MICHIGAN.

CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,976, dated October 4, 1892.

Application filed September 23,1891. Serial No. 406,571. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS W. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Ledge, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan,haveinvented certain newand useful Improvements in Chairs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference-marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in a new and improved chair which forms a rockingchair without requiring any rockers and which can also be arranged to form a combined rocking and reclining chair, the chair being so constructed that it is automatically adjusted at will by the movement of the users body, and which will remain in the position towhich it is thus adjusted without the use of any fastening device whatever; and my invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating my chair. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the chair used as a rocking-chair. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the chair used as a reclining-chair. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the several parts by their designating-numerals, 1 1 indicate the stationaryside pieces of the supporting-frame of the chair, which incline up to the upper forward ends 1 1, as shown, these side pieces being connected by the cross-bars 2. The seat 3 of the chair is provided with the arm-pieces 4 4 and is pivotally mounted in front of its central line uponthe rock shaft or bar 5. The cranked ends of this rock-bar 5 are pivotally secured in the upper forward ends 1 of the stationary side pieces 1, while the horizontal central part 5 of the bar passes through bearings 6 formed in the side pieces of the chairseat, as shown.

The back 7 of the chair is pivoted near its lower end to the rear extended ends of the side pieces of the chair-seat, and to the back near its lower end, but above the point where it is pivoted to the seat, are secured the rearwardly-extending bearing-plates 8 8.

9 indicates apivoted frame-piece of the peculiar form shown, the upper end of which is pivoted to the plates 8 8 of the chair-back,while its lower end is pivoted between the lower part of the side pieces 1 1.

To the front end of the chair-seat frame is hinged or pivoted by its upper end the footpiece 10, in the lower end of which is pivoted the foot-rest 11, which can be folded in out of the way when desired.

When the chair is designed as a rockingchair alone, the rear ends of the arm-pieces 4 can be extended back and secured to the sides of the chair-back, as shown in Fig. 2. It will now be seen that the occupant of the chair can swing or rock himself back and forth, the chair swinging on the pivoted rock-bar 5 and yoke or frame-piece 9, as shown in the drawings, and that I thus produce a practical and comfortable rocking-chair without using any rockers whatever, dispensing with all springs, &c., and adding greatly to the stability and wearing qualities of the chair.

When the chair is to be used as a combined rocking and reclining chair, the arm-pieces 4 are extended back beyond the back of the chair, their rear ends being preferably curved, as shown, and are left free from the chair-back.

A connecting-rod 12, extending beneath the chair-seat and below the level of the rock-bar 5, is hinged at its rear end to the lower crossbar of the chair-back, while its forward end is hinged to a cross-bar connecting the side pieces of the foot-piece 10. It will now be seen that when a person sitting in the chair leans back the hinged back 7 will move back, and as the lower end of the back is connected below the point where it is pivoted to the chair-seatand to the foot-piece 10 by means of the connecting rod 12 that the same movement will raise the foot-piece to a corresponding degree. It will thus be seen that the weight of the occupants body resting against the back of the chair will counterbalance the weight of his legs and feet on the pivoted footpiece,the back and foot-piece being connected as described, and, furthermore, the chair-back is also supported by the pivoted yoke orframepiece 9, the upper end of which moves back as the chair-back is inclined baokward,while when the back is inclined backward the seat portion also raises the pivoted rock-bar 5, on

which it is mounted and supported. It will clin'ingchair; thecon1b=in-ation,1W1th the side now beseen that by this peculiar construction and'arra'ngement of parts that the several parts will act in conjunction with each other to so distribute the weight placed on the chair by any movement of its occupant that my reclining-chair will stand and hold itself infany position to which it may be automatically adjusted without requiring any fastening or retaining device whatever, thus dispensing entirely with all rock-bars, ratchets, pawls, 850., such as have heretofore been, used in this class of chairs.

and forth, the chair swinging on the pivoted rock-bar 5 and yoke or frame-piece 9, as will'be readily seen, thus affording a most agreeable and comfortable movement. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pate ta' Furthermore, my 'recl'iningchair can be readily rocked or swung-back In a combined automatic rocking and repieces 1,the seat 3, provided with arms 4, the swinging rock-bar 5, pivoted to the side frames 1 and to the seat-bars, the back 7, pivoted to the seat, andthe leg-rest bars 10, pivoted to the seat and carrying a foot-rest, of a frame 9, pivoted to the sidepieces 1 and to plates 8, secured tolthe back 7, and a connecting-rod 12, pivoted, "respectively, to the back extensions and to the leg-rest, all arranged and operating substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence o f two witnesses.

. LEWIS, W1 (3HAP MAN Witnessesr G. W. IRISH, J. W.v Fi m-GERALD. 

